Hydrophilic substance dispensing device

ABSTRACT

A device for dispensing into a liquid at least one hydrophilic substance deposited thereon including a body having at least one surface area enhancer and at least one hydrophilic substance deposited on the at least one surface area enhancer, to form a coated surface enhancer, and the body. The hydrophilic substance deposited includes a high intensity sweetener, a nutritive sweetener, a flavoring agent, a drug substance, a vitamin, a mineral, and mixtures thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to devices for dispensing a hydrophilicsubstance to a liquid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Consumers differ considerably in the amount of sweetness that theyprefer in foods and beverages. The amount of sweetness incorporated intoa liquid during commercial production may not be adequate to satisfysome consumers while other consumers may find that the same amount ofsweetness to be excessive. Therefore, there exists a long-felt need formechanisms that consumers can use to increase the sweetness of a productat the time of consumption that is consistent with their personalpreference, without introducing an additional caloric burden

Methods for dispensing hydrophilic substances into a liquid are known.For example, adding sweetener to an unsweetened iced tea beverage willtypically involve several steps—adding the sweetener to the unsweetenediced tea beverage followed by stirring to incorporate the sweetener tocreate a sweetened iced tea beverage. Such sweetener is typically in apowdered, liquid, or tablet form. Similar effort is undertaken whenadding powdered or liquid beverage mix to a liquid, e.g., water, milk,alcohol, and the like.

The availability of high intensity sweeteners (HIS) provides noveltechnical routes to the delivery of sweeteners to individual servings ofbeverages. These new technical approaches are made possible by theminute quantities of these sweeteners needed to achieve adequatesweetening of individual servings. For example, sucralose is about 600times as sweet as sucrose (table sugar or cane sugar). Therefore, oneteaspoon of sugar (about 4 g) can be replaced by only about 6.7 mg ofsucralose.

Although the very small quantities of high intensity sweeteners neededto sweeten individual servings of beverages offer new technicalapproaches, delivering this small amount of a sweetener to a disposableserving device also presents challenges. One common approach is theblending of the high intensity sweetener with non-sweet, blandmaterials, and then adhering these materials to a serving device. Thisintroduces complexity in manufacture, and also introduces possiblyunwanted caloric intake to the user's diet.

Sweetening individual servings of a beverage presents a challenge inmany food service situations. Frequently, an individual packet of asweetener is provided along with a serving of a beverage. The packet maycontain sucrose, or alternatively may contain high intensity sweetenerssuch as sucralose, aspartame, or saccharin. The user must open thepacket and empty the contents into the beverage, and then stir thebeverage to obtain dissolution of the sweetener and its completedispersion in the liquid mass. The residual packaging of the packetcreates waste that may present disposal problems under many situations.Also, a device is needed to stir the liquid to which the sweetener hasbeen added. This stirring device may be a reusable or disposable spoon.More frequently, especially in casual dining, convenience stores, orfast food situations a simpler stir stick is provided. This stick may bewooden, but more generally it is an extruded plastic object.

The multi-step process involved in satisfactorily adding a hydrophilicsubstance to a liquid has been addressed by many methods. Most of thesemethods combine a stirring device with the hydrophilic substance, e.g.,sweetener, flavoring agent, coffee, cocoa, tea, and the like.

One such approach is directed to placing a free flowing hydrophilicsubstance inside a container having a receptacle for holding thesubstance. This approach is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,154,418;4,860,929; 4,986,451; 5,125,534; 5,440,976; and 5,866,185.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,154,418, which is expressly incorporated herein byreference, discloses, among other things, a spoon having two cavities.One cavity is covered by a mesh and is used to contain a material, suchas, tea, coffee, or cocoa for making a beverage. A second cavity waspurported to be in a handle of the spoon. This second cavity is used todeliver beverage components, such as, sweetener. Delivery of materialfrom the second chamber is achieved by squeezing the spoon handle orshaft of the stir stick, thereby breaking a seal and permitting thecontents to flow into the beverage by gravity.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,824,322, which is expressly incorporated herein byreference, discloses a flavored tubular stirrer for alcoholic beverages.The disclosed stirrer was described as having stirring and handleportions, and flavoring means for aqueous alcoholic beverages that isheld to a stirring portion of the stirrer with at least part of theflavoring communicable with an alcoholic beverage in which it is placedthrough or at an exterior surface of the stirring portion. The flavoringmeans were described as being a natural extract, a solid, or be capableof being converted to solid form by being deposited on or sorbed by acarrier. The carrier was described as being a sugar, sorbitol, manitol,corn syrup solids, milk solids, monoglycerides or diglycerides, and thelike. In addition, the perforations were disclosed as being pushedinwardly so as to provide projections to assist in holding the flavoringmeans in place therein.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,860,929 and 4,986,451, which are expressly incorporatedherein by reference, allegedly disclose a dispensing device for solublegranular material. The device includes a tube containing a solidgranular material. The tube being closed at both ends and havingperforations along a portion of its length and having a paddle formed atone end. In this design and in the dry state, the granular material mustbe sized so as not to escape through the perforations while the granularmaterial is in a dry state.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,534, which is incorporated herein by reference,discloses a multiple compartment dispenser that is capable ofsimultaneously dispensing multiple dry flavoring ingredients into afluid. The dispenser described contains a chamber having a spine with aplurality of vanes or blades projecting therefrom that extend into alower housing to form multiple compartments. The lower housing wasdescribed as being a dissolvable film, such as, gelatin ormethylcellulose, that is formed to fit over the bottom portion of thespine and the associated horizontally projecting vanes. Each of themultiple compartments was described as being individually filled with aflavoring ingredient prior to dispensing. Flavoring ingredients includedsugar, coffee, hot chocolate, and bouillon.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,976, which is incorporated herein by reference,allegedly discloses a device for dispensing natural and artificialsweeteners into a beverage. The device includes a tube havingperforations and at least one separator disk positioned therein, and asolid sleeve formed to receive the tube. The tube is in the sleeve suchthat the tube may be urged forward dispensing a measured amount ofsweetener into the beverage. Control of sweetness intensity wasallegedly described as being further enhanced by providing calibrationmarkers on the surface of the tube.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,866,185, which is expressly incorporated herein byreference, discloses a device including a tube including a soluble ordispersible material and a soluble coating formed on the outer surfaceof the tubular portion. The soluble coating can be sugar or anartificial sweetener and is dissolved when the coating comes intocontact with liquid. The tube is also disclosed as having perforationsto control the rate that the soluble material is dispersed in theliquid. The soluble material was described as being a variety ofsubstances that are soluble in liquid, including flavors, such as,cherry, orange, grape, and fruit punch.

Another approach is directed to attaching a solid mass to a handle anddissolving the solid mass in a liquid. This approach is described inU.S. Pat. Nos. 3,869,555; 4,849,231; 6,399,126, and U.S. Pat. App. Pub.No. 20010038871.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,869,555, which is incorporated herein by reference,discloses a soluble solid mass secured to a wooden stick. The solid masswas discloses as having a base mass and an optional flavoring mass. Thebase mass was described as being instant coffee crystals or particles,tea, cocoa, eggnog, and chocolate with binder material. The flavoringmass was described as being powdered milk and/or sugar that is heldtogether by a binder material, which could be sugar or may betaste-free.

U.S. Pat. No.4,849,231, which is expressly incorporated herein byreference, discloses a stirring rod having a stirring body that has aholder for holding a solid mass, e.g., sugar lump. More than one holdercan be included in the body of the stirring rod. In addition to sugarlumps, sweetener tablets containing high intensity sweeteners, such as,aspartame or saccharin, powdered milk, coloring, and flavoring aredisclosed. In another embodiment, there is disclosed a wooden stirringbody that was immersed in a warm, liquid sugar or other substance, wherea quantity of substance has remained adhered thereto, the quantitycorresponding to a quantity of substance, for example sugar orsweetener, e.g,, aspartame, geared to an amount of beverage. Aftercooling, the solid piece of the substance is held by a holder. Thequantity of substance to be added to the beverage was disclosed as beingregulated by inserting the stirring rod more or less deeply into thebeverage that is to be stirred.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,399,126, which is incorporated herein by reference,discloses a flavored beverage stirrer that includes a carrier and acartridge. The cartridge was disclosed as being formed from a flavoredmaterial, which dissolves and adds flavor to a beverage.

U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 20010038871, which is incorporated herein byreference, discloses an embodiment wherein a predetermined quantity of awater soluble extract is sprayed onto the inner surface of a straw. Thecoated-interior of the straw will provide an agent of choice to beincorporated into a liquid.

The above approaches suffer from a number of drawbacks. In particular,due to the complexity of most of the above solutions, manufacturingcosts and difficulties present obstacles to adoption. In addition, noneof the solutions address the problem of increasing the dissolution rateof a hydrophilic substance while maintaining the same compact size ofthe device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a device that satisfies theseneeds. The device of the present invention is easy to manufacture,convenient, and provides increased surface area for loading of thehydrophilic substance. This disclosure provides new individual servingsweetening compositions that can avoid the incorporation of substantialamounts of carrier materials. In one embodiment, the present inventionincludes a device for dispensing into a liquid at least one hydrophilicsubstance deposited thereon comprising, consisting essentially of, andconsisting of a body having at least one surface area enhancer and atleast one hydrophilic substance deposited on the at least one surfacearea enhancer, to form a coated surface enhancer, and the body.

In another embodiment, the present invention includes a device fordispensing into a liquid at least one hydrophilic substance depositedthereon comprising, consisting essentially of, and consisting of anelongated body having at least one surface area enhancer and sucralosedeposited on the at least one surface area enhancer and the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of device representing one embodiment ofthe present invention and a vessel containing a liquid;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of device representing one embodiment ofthe present invention placed in a vessel containing a liquid;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of device representing one embodiment ofthe present invention and a vessel containing a liquid after at leastpart of hydrophilic substance coating was placed in the liquid;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the presentinvention depicted in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the presentinvention depicted in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the presentinvention depicted in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the presentinvention depicted in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the presentinvention depicted in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present inventionin a package;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 25 is a perspective view, partially in section, of one embodimentof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As used herein, the term “drug substance” denotes materials withpharmacological or nutritional benefits. Such drug substances include,but are not limited to, acetaminophen, famotidine, chlorpheniramine,pseudoephedrine, dextromethorphan, diphenhydramine, brompheniramine,clemastine, phenylpropanolamine, terfenadine, astemizole, loratadine,loperamide, loperamide-N-oxide, ranitidine, cimetidine, tramadol,cisapride, acetylsalicylic acid, doxylamine succinate, pharmaceuticallyacceptable salts thereof and mixtures thereof.

As used herein, the term “hydrophilic substance” denotes any substancethat dissolves or can be suspended in a liquid. A non-limiting list ofhydrophilic substances includes HIS, nutritive sweetener, sugar alcohol,a flavoring agent, a drug substance, a vitamin, a mineral, and mixturesthereof.

As used herein, the term “high intensity sweetener(s)” or “HIS”, denotessubstances, such as, aspartame, salts of acesulfame, alitame, brazzein,cyclamic acid and its salts, dihydrochalcones, extract ofDioscorophyllum cumminsii, and extract of the fruit of Pentadiplandrabrazzeana, glycyrrhizin, hernandulcin, monellin, mogroside, neotame,neohesperidin, saccharin and its salts, sucralose, stevia, thaumatin,and the like, alone or in combination.

As used herein, the term “nutritive sweetener” denotes corn syrup,glucose, fructose, high fructose corn syrup, lactose, sucrose,trehalose, lactose, arabinose, trehalose, maltodextrin, soluble starch,inulin, and the like, alone or in combination.

As used herein, the term “sugar alcohol” denotes erythritol,hydrogenated isomaltulose, hydrogenated starch hydrolyzates, lactitol,maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, and the like, alone or incombination.

As used herein, the term “surface area enhancer” denotes any contrivancein or on the device that is used to increase the surface area of thedevice. Such contrivances include, but are not limited to, a surfacecrack, a fissure, a crevice, a protrusion, a capillary, an internalcrack, a bore, a fenestra, a slit, and combinations thereof. Where asmooth bore or capillary is imbedded in the interior of the device, suchcapillary or bore does not extend fully through the length of thedevice.

The present invention is directed to a device for stirring a liquidwhile additionally dispensing a hydrophilic substance, e.g., HIS,nutritive sweetener, sugar alcohol, flavoring agent, coloring agent,coffee, tea, cocoa, drug substance, and the like, alone or incombination, into the liquid. The device of the present inventioncontains at least one surface area enhancer and the device can be loadedwith a coating that is a solution containing a hydrophilic substance andallowing the coating to dry by any known method, e.g., heat to expeditedrying.

Capillary or adhesive forces may be used to control the amount ofcoating deposited on the device.

While the present invention is not dependent upon, bound to, or limitedby, any particular theory, surface tension is a property of liquids, andthe surface tension of a liquid or solution is dependent on a number offactors, including temperature and solute content. When a narrowdiameter foramen, fenestra, or slit is contacted to the surface of aliquid, the surface tension of the liquid will frequently cause a smallportion of the liquid to be drawn up into the foramen or slit. Thisphenomenon has been described as capillary force or capillaryattraction, though it is a derivative effect of surface tension. Thevolume of liquid bound to the solid surface will depend on the surfacetension of the liquid, as well as the type of material or materialsconstituting the surface, and the texture of the surface. However, aslong as all conditions remain constant, the amount of fluid so entrainedwill be relatively constant; e.g., if a number of capillary tubes areimmersed to the same depth in a liquid, approximately the same amount ofliquid will be drawn up into each of these tubes. After the foramen,capillary, or slit is withdrawn from the surface of the liquid, a volumeof liquid remains adherent.

When liquid contains a solute, such as, a HIS, the HIS remains adheredto the surface. The liquid can then be removed by common processes suchas evaporation, thereby leaving a residue or a coating of the HIS on thesurface of the device. The coated HIS can therefore be retained instable form until the coated surface of the device is again exposed to aliquid in which the solute is soluble. In this case, a volume of the newliquid penetrates into the foramen, capillary, or slit. The liquidserves to dissolve the high intensity sweetener. Diffusion occurringwithin the liquid results in the dispersion of the HIS into the bulk ofthe liquid. Stirring the liquid with the device r will aid in thedissolution and dispersion of the HIS into the liquid.

Any amount of hydrophilic substance can be coated onto the device of thepresent invention. Typically, if one were loading an HIS or a nutritivesweetener one would wish to coat the device such that one, two, or threeteaspoons equivalents of sucrose are on the device. The concentration ofthe hydrophilic substance in the liquid will impact the volume ofsolution loaded on the device. Loading of the solution onto the devicecan be achieved by any means known to those in the art. These includedipping the device into the solution, spraying the device with solution,and brushing the solution onto the device. The greater the surface areaof the device the more of the solution that can be loaded onto thedevice.

In one specific embodiment of this invention, a rod or shaft isfabricated that has a plurality of narrow diameter capillaries in one orboth of the ends of the rod or shaft. The capillaries may be straightchannels that are oriented parallel to the axis of the rod or shaft.Alternatively, the capillaries may be curved regularly or irregularly,or they may have a serpentine shape. The capillaries may be circular ina cross section perpendicular to the axis of the rod or shaft, or theymay be oval or highly irregular. For a given concentration of solution,the amount of solution that will be loaded on the device is dependent onthe shape and depth of the capillaries.

Embodiments of this invention include devices in which only a singleforamen, capillary, or slit is present, as well as embodiments in whicha plurality of such cavities are present.

Furthermore, the embodiments of this invention include devices in whichthe cavities are present in one end of the shaft or rod, as well asembodiments in which the cavities are incorporated in both ends.Incorporating the cavities into both ends of the device offer a numberof advantages.

The same amount of hydrophilic substance can be coated into both ends ofthe devices, allowing the user to dispense the amount of hydrophilicsubstance in one end or both ends of the device into single serving ofbeverage, depending on the user's preferences.

Alternatively, the user could add the hydrophilic substance to oneserving of beverage using one end of the device, and then use the otherend to add the same or different hydrophilic substance to a secondserving of a beverage. Alternatively, different amounts of hydrophilicsubstance could be incorporated into each end of the device. If asweetener is the hydrophilic substance, such a device could be labeledor marked to indicate the less sweet end and most sweet end. The usercould select which end to use, depending on the sweetness preferences.

Another approach would entail loading different types of hydrophilicsubstance into each end of the device. For example, one end could beloaded with sucralose, whereas the other end could be loaded withanother sweetener, such as, saccharin, aspartame, or neotame. Someconsumers differ in their preferred sweetener, and a sweetening deviceconfigured with different sweeteners at each end would permit the user achoice of sweeteners.

The stirring devices of this disclosure are generally rod-shaped, withrod shaped being broadly defined to include elongated shapes that aregenerally circular or oval in cross section. However, objects that aresquare in cross section or more generally polygons with sides ofgenerally equal length are also functionally equivalent for stirring andare included within the scope of being rod shaped. Specifically excludedfrom the intended scope of rod shape are generally planar devices, i.e.,in which the length of two sides of the cross-sectional shape exceed thelength of the other sides by a factor of five times or greater.Generally rod shaped devices as defined herein have a functionaladvantage over planar devices in that the ability to adequately stir afluid comestible is independent of how the axial dimension of the deviceis oriented with respect to the fluid. In contrast, in order foradequate stirring to be obtained with a planar device, the device mustbe oriented to that the broadest cross-sectional surface is generallyperpendicular to the direction of stirring.

Capillaries penetrating into the body of the rod or stir device arecontemplated, as are generally smooth exterior surfaces. Alsocontemplated are surface cracks, fissures, or crevices that areincorporated into the ends of the device, or into the sides of thedevice. Such cracks or crevices also present solid surfaces in closejuxtaposition, and surface tension of some liquids will cause a portionof these liquids to become adherent to the surface cracks, fissure, orcrevices. Devices containing such cracks, fissures, or crevices maysimilarly be loaded with a sweetener solution by immersing theappropriate surface into the sweetener solution. The use of relativelyshallow surface cracks, fissures or crevices may diminish the dryingtime needed to remove solvent adhering to the surfaces, and this willalso decrease the amount of time needed to obtain dissolution of thesweetener.

The hydrophilic substance coating of this disclosure will generally havea bulk density of greater than about 0.5 g per cubic centimeter, incontrast to porous crystalline lattice materials with bulk densities ofabout 0.2 g/cc. or less.

The embodiments contemplated by this disclosure are by no means limitedto HIS. For example, a flavor agent may be incorporated into thesweetener solution that is used for coating the device. When the deviceis suitably dried and later immersed into an appropriate liquid, thesweetener and the flavor agent are released into the liquid.

HIS are generally non-volatile and no loss of sweetener should occurduring the drying of the contemplated devices. However, some flavorcomponents are quite volatile, and the incorporation of some flavorcomponents will necessitate careful control of the drying conditions sothat the aesthetic impact of the flavor material is not compromised. Theflavor material used can be selected based on the type of beverage thatwill be sweetened with the device. For example, flavors that may beconsumed with coffee include cream, vanilla, chocolate, cinnamon,almond, pecan, or anise. In contrast, flavors that may be used when thedevice is used to sweeten tea include lemon, lime, raspberry, peach, ormango. Blends of flavors are also suitable for these applications.Flavors contemplated as being useful include the above flavors and thefollowing non-exhaustive list vanillin, butter, butterscotch, tea,orange, lemon, lime, tangerine, almond, walnut, pecan, caramel,chocolate, licorice, strawberry, banana, peach, grape, plum, cherry,blueberry, pineapple, elderberry, currant, cranberry, lingonberry,watermelon, bubblegum, cantaloupe, mango, guava, kiwi, papaya, coconut,mint, spearmint, anise, caraway, cardoman, cinnamon, ginger, cream, andmixtures thereof.

In addition to flavors, other materials may also be loaded into thedevice of the present invention. Contemplated materials includepharmaceutical agents, vitamins, or antioxidants; the principaltechnical challenges involved in inclusion of these other materialsinclude the amount of material that must be ingested to obtain atherapeutic or physiologic benefit, and the stability of the additionalmaterial in the loading solution, stability in the dry state, andstability in the solution in which the device is finally used.

A further contemplated embodiment of this invention is the provision ofgraduations or markings that allow the user to control the amount ofsweetness dispensed. For example, the devices may be marked by a seriesof axially oriented lines, dots, letters, numbers, or other means. Theuser can use these markings to control the depth of insertion of thedevice into the ingestible beverage or fluid. This controls the amountof sweetener delivered, and hence the user is provided with a mechanismfor controlling sweetness. This provides a benefit in comparison topackets of high intensity sweeteners, since it is difficult to use onlya portion of such a packet in a controlled manner.

The sweetening devices of this invention may be packaged in a number ofways. For example, the devices in quantity may be placed into boxes,envelopes or pouches or other suitable packages. A small number ofsweetening devices, for example, about 2 to about 50, may be placed in asuitable package for the convenience of a single user. The incorporationof these into a pouch or an envelope may be particularly convenient forthe user. A larger number of sweetening devices, for example from about50 to about 5000, may be packaged into a single container. This approachmay be especially suitable for food service applications.

The sweetening devices may also be individually packaged into a suitableprotective container. This container may be a sealed pouch or sleevemade from plastic film or paper. The container may also be a tube formedof plastic or cardboard. The container may also be formed from a metalfoil, or a combination of the materials disclosed above. Individuallypackaged containers may be especially useful in situations where hygienemay be compromised, such as camping trips, outdoor activities, orcrowded conditions.

A further contemplated embodiment is the incorporation of thesesweetening devices in a dispenser that simplifies their use. Inparticular, the dispenser facilitates the release of a single device.One example is a device containing a sliding or hinged opening. Thediameter of the opening permits only one sweetening device to bereleased at a time. A further embodiment is a device with a depressibleor sliding button or tab. Each actuation of the sliding button or tabresults in the ejection of a single sweetening device. These dispensingdevices have a benefit of requiring only one hand for their use; thispermits the user to simultaneously hold a container of beverage in theother hand.

A process for making a device for delivering a high intensity sweetenercomposition to an ingestible liquid, the process comprising: providing agenerally rod shaped device, providing a solution of a high intensitysweetener contained in one or more solvents, immersing at least aportion of the rod shaped device into the high intensity sweetenersolution so that a portion of the high intensity sweetener solution isadherent to the rod shaped device, and removing the one or more solventssuch that high intensity sweetener in solid form remains on the surfaceof the device.

Turning to the Figures, FIGS. 1-3 depict an embodiment of the presentinvention before, during, and after use. FIG. 1 depicts device 10 havingsurface area enhancers 20 thereon. Hydrophilic substance coating 30 isdepicted as deposited on device 10 and a plurality of marking 60included on device 10 to provide indicia of amounts of hydrophilicsubstance that are loaded onto device 10. Vessel 40 is depicted ascontaining liquid 40.

FIG. 2 depicts device 10 placed in liquid 50. As device 10 is moved inthe liquid, the removal of hydrophilic substance coating 20 isfacilitated and the hydrophilic substance coating dissolves into liquid50.

FIG. 3, As a result of dissolving or removing hydrophilic substance fromdevice 10, any portion of device 10 not

FIG. 4 depicts a magnified view a device having bearing two types ofsurface area enhancer 20 elements. As seen in this figure, the surfacearea enhancer element 20 may be located on the exterior of device 10 andon the interior of device 10. Alternately, surface area enhancer 20 canbe located on either the exterior or on the interior of device 10.

Also depicted in FIG. 4 is marking 60. In this particular embodiment,the material for marking 60 does not permit hydrophilic substance 20 beadhere to it. Thus, marking 60 is automatically produced upon coating ofdevice 10 with hydrophilic substance 20. Alternately, marking 60 may beink, pigmentation, photolithograph, physical surface alterations, e.g.,ribs, and the like.

Device 10 can be any shape or size, but must contain at least oneportion that is solid throughout a transverse section. In the embodimentdepicted in FIG. 1, device 10 is an elongated shape, e.g., rod or stick.While the materials used to construct device 10 are not important, suchmaterials must permit the hydrophilic substance 30 to be coated,deposited and/or loaded thereon and permit hydrophilic substance 30 toenter the liquid upon exposure to the liquid. Such materials includewood, plastic, and cork.

A cross section of device 10 is depicted in FIG. 5 where a plurality ofsurface area enhancers 20 is found in the interior and the exterior ofdevice 10. FIGS. 6-10 depict alternate embodiments for the shape of across section of device 10 having a bore or capillary embedded in theinterior as the surface area enhancer 20. Such a design will permit theopening of the bore or capillary to be exposed to the liquid and permitany hydrophilic substance that is coated thereon to dissolve into theliquid.

Surface area enhancer 20 can be any shape. As depicted in FIGS. 1-4, thesurface area enhancer 20 can be raised dots. However, the surface areaenhancer can take on a variety of shapes and sizes, including, but notlimited to, a surface crack, a fissure, a crevice, a protrusion, acapillary, an internal crack, a bore, a fenestra, a slit, treebark-shaped, and mixtures thereof. FIGS. 11-18 depict various surfacearea enhancers 20 that are positioned on the exterior of device 10.FIGS. 12, 14, 16, and 18 depict views of cross-sections 12,14,16, and 18of FIGS. 11, 13, 15, and 17.

FIG. 19 depicts an embodiment of the present invention where oppositeends of device 10 have surface area enhancers 20 and have hydrophilicsubstance coating deposited thereon. This embodiment provides theability to use device 10 in another liquid or to incorporate hydrophilicsubstance coating 30 in a single liquid by dissolving both coated endsin the liquid.

FIG. 20 depicts an embodiment of the present invention where handle 70located on an end of device 10 opposite surface area enhancer 20 andhydrophilic substance coating 30. The handle can be unitary with device10 or can be a separate piece that is affixed or attached to device 10.The size and shape of handle 70 is not critical to the presentinvention. Handle 70 an be used to depict words, images, and the like.

FIG. 21 depicts an embodiment of the present invention where device 10is placed in an individual package 80. Individual package 80 can be madeof any materials known in the art, including polypropylene, polyethyleneand other polymers used in the packaging arts, foil, and combinationsthereof. As depicted in FIG. 21, individual package 80 may include atleast one notch 100. Notch 100 is intended to facilitate openingindividual package 80. Other methods of facilitating opening of package80 can also be used. Such methods include, but are not limited to,perforations, embossments, and the like.

FIG. 22 depicts an embodiment of the present invention where handle 70is located in a center portion of device 10. At opposite ends of device70 are depicted surface area enhancers 20 and hydrophilic substancecoating 30. FIG. 22 also depicts a plurality of devices 10 in seriatimsuch that when formed handle 70 from a first device 10 is attached tohandle 70 of a second device 10. The attached handles 70 can beseparated before packaging or just prior to use.

FIG. 23 depicts an embodiment of the present invention where area ofweakness 90 traverses handle 70 of device 10. In this embodiment, areaof weakness 90 permits the user to bring opposite ends of device 10together as depicted in FIG. 24. Such an embodiment permits the user toincrease the amount of hydrophilic substance coating 30 to dissolve into a liquid. Alternatively, the each of the ends of device 10 may have adifferent hydrophilic substance coating 30 deposited thereon. Forexample, one end may have a sucralose coating and the opposite end mayhave a flavor coating. This embodiment may facilitate manufacturing ofdevice 10 where a plurality of hydrophilic substances are to be coated.

FIG. 25 depicts an embodiment of the present invention where device t10includes exterior and interior surface area enhancers 20 that havehydrophilic substance coating deposited thereon. As shown in FIG. 25,the interior surface area enhancer 20 does not extend end to end,thereby leaving a portion of device 10 solid.

The following examples are provided to further illustrate the device ofthe present invention, as well as certain physical properties and usesthereof. These examples are illustrative only and are not intended tolimit the scope of the invention in any way.

EXAMPLES Example 1

Coating 1 %, w/w Sucralose 12 Water 88

After the sucralose is dissolved in the water, a wooden rod with a slitparallel to the axis is dipped into the solution to a depth of about oneinch so that about 50 microliters of solution formed a thin film on thesurface of the rod and in the slit. The solution is then dried. Afterdrying, the rod contains about 6 mg of sucralose, which is equivalent toone teaspoon of sugar.

Dipping the rod into the solution to a depth of about 2 inches willresult in the deposition of about 12 mg of sucralose on the rod, whichis equivalent to 2 teaspoons of sugar in sweetness.

Example 2

Coating 2 %, w/w Sucralose 24 Water 76

After the sucralose is dissolved, a rod with a slit parallel to the axisis dipped into the solution to a depth of about one inch so that about50 microliters of solution formed a thin film on the surface of the rodand in the slit. The solution is then dried. After drying, the rodcontains about 12 mg of sucralose, which is equivalent to two teaspoonsof sugar.

Dipping the rod into the solution to a depth of about 2 inches willresult in the deposition of about 24 mg of sucralose on the rod, whichis equivalent to 4 teaspoons of sugar in sweetness.

Example 3

Coating 3 %, w/w Sucralose 12 Sucrose 50 Water 38

The sucralose and sucrose are dissolved in the water, and a rod withslit was dipped into the solution to a depth of about one inch so thatabout 50 microliters of the solution formed a thin film on the rod. Thesolution is then dried. This results in a rod with about 6 mg ofsucralose, which is equivalent to one teaspoon of sugar. Theincorporation of sucrose into the composition provides better adherence,and also conveys a shining appearance.

When dipped to a depth of about 2 inches, the rod contains about 12 mgof sucralose, which is equivalent to 2 teaspoons of sugar in sweetness.

Example 4

Coating 4 %, w/w Sucralose 12 Ethanol 88

The sucralose is dissolved in the ethanol, and a rod containing a slitis immersed in the solution to a depth of about one inch; which resultsin approximately 50-microliters of the solution forming a thin film onthe rod. The rod is dried, which results in a rod having 6 mg ofsucralose and is equivalent to one teaspoon of sugar. Ethanol was foundto provide a better fluid adhesion to provide more precise control ofthe loading or coating; also, the ethanol evaporates more readily thanwater.

When dipped to a depth of about 2 inches deep, about 12 mg of sucraloseis adhered to the rod, which is equivalent to 2 teaspoons of sugar insweetness.

Example 5

Coating 5 %, w/w Sucralose 3 Sucrose 70 Water 27

A solution of sucralose and sucrose is prepared by adding thesematerials to water and heating with stirring until complete dissolutionhad occurred. A rod was dipped into the slurry to obtain a layer on theend of the rod. The rod is dried, and then repeatedly dipped into theslurry and dried. This results in a glassy shining rock on the tip ofthe stick. Depending on the size of the resulting rock, the rod candeliver the sweetness equivalent of one to two teaspoons of sugar whenit is used to stir a container of beverage.

1. A device for dispensing into a liquid at least one hydrophilicsubstance deposited thereon comprising a body having at least onesurface area enhancer and at least one hydrophilic substance depositedon the at least one surface area enhancer, to form a coated surfaceenhancer, and the body.
 2. A device of claim 1, wherein the coatedsurface area enhancer is selected from the group consisting of a crack,a fissure, a crevice, a protrusion, and combinations thereof.
 3. Adevice of claim 1, wherein the body has an interior and an exterior andthe coated surface area enhancer is located on the interior, theexterior or both.
 4. A device of claim 1, wherein the coated surfacearea enhancer is located on an exterior of the body.
 5. A device ofclaim 4, wherein the coated surface area enhancer is selected from thegroup consisting of a surface crack, a fissure, a crevice, a protrusion,and mixtures thereof.
 6. A device of claim 1, wherein the body furthercomprises a first end portion and a second end portion and the first endportion, the second end portion, or both contain the coated surface areaenhancer.
 7. A device of claim 6, wherein the coated surface enhancer isselected from the group consisting of a capillary, an internal crack, abore, a fenestra, a slit, and combinations thereof.
 8. A device of claim1 wherein the body is hydrophilic.
 9. A device of claim 1 wherein thehydrophilic substance is selected from the group consisting of a highintensity sweetener, a nutritive sweetener, a flavoring agent, a drugsubstance, a vitamin, a mineral, and mixtures thereof.
 10. A device ofclaim 9, wherein the hydrophilic substance is selected from the groupconsisting of a flavoring agent, a high intensity sweetener, a nutritivesweetener, a flavoring agent, and mixtures thereof.
 11. A device ofclaim 10, wherein the high intensity sweetener is selected from thegroup consisting of aspartame, neotame, acesulfame, saccharin,neohesperidin, thaumatin, neohesperidin, stevia, hernandulcin, monellin,mogroside, brazzein, sucralose extract of Dioscorophyllum cumminsii, andextract of the fruit of Pentadiplandra brazzeana.
 12. A device of claim11, wherein the high intensity sweetener is sucralose.
 13. A device ofclaim 10, wherein the nutritive sweetener is selected from the groupconsisting of sucrose, glucose, fructose, corn syrup, high fructose cornsyrup, lactose, trehalose, and mixtures thereof.
 14. A device of claim10, wherein the drug substance is selected from the group consisting ofacetaminophen, famotidine, chlorpheniramine, pseudoephedrine,dextromethorphan, diphenhydramine, brompheniramine, clemastine,phenylpropanolamine, terfenadine, astemizole, loratadine, loperamide,loperamide-N-oxide, ranitidine, cimetidine, tramadol, cisapride,acetylsalicylic acid, doxylamine succinate, pharmaceutically acceptablesalts thereof and mixtures thereof.
 15. A device of claim 10, whereinthe flavoring agent is selected from the group consisting of coffee,cocoa, tea, vanillin, butter, butterscotch, tea, orange, lemon, lime,tangerine, almond, walnut, pecan, caramel, chocolate, licorice,strawberry, banana, peach, grape, plum, cherry, blueberry, pineapple,elderberry, currant, cranberry, lingonberry, watermelon, bubblegum,cantaloupe, mango, guava, kiwi, papaya, coconut, mint, spearmint, anise,caraway, cardoman, cinnamon, ginger, cream, and mixtures thereof. 16.(canceled)
 17. A device of claim 9, wherein the high intensitysweetener, the nutritive sweetener or both provide a sweetnessequivalent of from about 1 to about 3 teaspoons of sucrose to theliquid.
 18. The device of claim 9, wherein the high intensity sweetenerhas a bulk density of more than about 0.5 grams per cubic centimeter.19. A device for dispensing into a liquid at least one hydrophilicsubstance deposited thereon comprising an elongated body having at leastone surface area enhancer and sucralose deposited on the at least onesurface area enhancer and the body.
 20. A device of claim 1, whereinsucralose is deposited in an amount to provide a sweetness equivalent offrom about 1 to about 3 teaspoons of sucrose to the liquid.